Vittorio closed his office early and was going over the bar stock, ringing up the suppliers for more champagne. ‘I have a feeling we’ll need it,’ he said.
With an hour to go, he dragged Lily away. ‘Come along upstairs, the staff can manage. Why not take a bath and play with Victoria before she goes to bed, and then you can get into your costume. After all, you must be there to greet the clients. I’ll slip down a bit later, when there are plenty of people about.’ He drew her to him and kissed her on the forehead. ‘There’s nothing more for you to do here for the moment.’
Having relaxed in her bath and seen Victoria fall asleep in her cot, Lily changed into her costume. She smiled to herself as she stepped into the gown made of sky-blue taffeta, trimmed with exquisite cream-coloured lace around the low neckline and around the cuffs of the big puff sleeves. The boned bodice nipped in her waist. The dress was covered in delicate embroidery and fine ribbons were threaded through the skirt. It was a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.
She was dressed as an eighteenth-century courtesan, which she thought wholly appropriate and highly amusing. She put on her make-up and stuck the black beauty spot to her cheek before carefully placing the white powdered wig upon her head. She was amazed at the difference to her appearance when she looked into the mirror; ringlets fell over the silkiness of her shoulders, and the décolletage of the dress revealed the smooth rise of her breasts to perfection.
She swirled around in delight just as Vittorio emerged from the bathroom. There was an expression of surprise and admiration on his face as he watched the beautiful creature before him.
‘What is it? Don’t you like it?’ she asked, placing her hand coquettishly on her bosom.
Holding her at arm’s length, he drank in the sight of her. ‘You look absolutely ravishing. I think it’s just as well I’m going to be around tonight, keeping an eye on you.’
‘You don’t think this is too much, do you?’ she asked, pulling the front of the dress higher.
He stayed her hand. ‘Leave it, Lily. All the men will look at you and envy me. I’ll enjoy that.’ To her surprise, he then took the gold chain from his neck and removed the large emerald ring. ‘Tonight I think you should wear this.’
‘But it’s your mother’s ring!’
‘I know, and tonight I want you to wear it. It was a family heirloom. Many times my father wanted to sell it, but my mother refused. Just before she died, she gave it to me. Tonight I give it to you.’ He placed it on the slim finger of her left hand, brushed her hand with his lips. ‘Now that makes it official,’ he said softly.
Lily looked at the ring on her finger. The large square-cut emerald nestled between two diamonds; the light caught the gems, making them sparkle. She was overcome by the beauty of the ring and the sentiment of the gesture. Tears glistened in her eyes. ‘Thank you, Vittorio.’ She reached up and kissed him.
He glanced at his watch, his voice suddenly husky. ‘You’d better get down those stairs, darling. The clients will be arriving at any moment. I’ll see you later.’
Her scarlet mask, decorated in matching sequins and fine feathers, was mounted on a slim stick. She picked it up, and with a provocative look, held it to her eyes and gave a deep curtsey before leaving the room.
As she descended the stairs, the staff looked up and gasped, then broke into applause and cheers. Lily bowed gracefully. Looking around, she checked that all was ready.
Rachel was sitting in front of her dressing table. She took a sip of her gin and tonic and, peering into the mirror, carefully drew black lines above the roots of her eyelashes and the lower rim of her eye. Smudging the last one, she cursed and tried to rub it out. ‘I bet bloody Cleopatra didn’t have this trouble.’ She then slipped into the gold lamé gown, tied the jewelled belt, put on the Egyptian headdress and looked at her reflection with a sardonic smile.
Deciding there was time for one more drink before the taxi arrived, she sat quietly in her living room and thought back over the past exciting months. She’d had no doubts whatsoever that the club would be a success without Vittorio’s presence, and was more than a little satisfied at her own part in it. But more importantly, she’d secured a future for Lily … and her child. In her own way, she had helped pay back a debt. No matter what happened, financially Lily was safe.
Vittorio had been quite a revelation to her. She knew that in his business world, he was a force to be reckoned with – a hard man. But his affection for Lily was true and tender, and the way he cared for his child was a joy to behold.
Manny, she had ceased to worry about; she no longer even opened the letters that came to her from him. He was set up for life, if only he would accept the fact. The widow Goldburg had what she wanted and he should be content.
Hearing the taxi arrive, she put her fur coat around her shoulders and left the house.
Rachel sat in the back of the vehicle as it left Wilton Avenue and turned into Bedford Place, past W.J. French and Son’s shoe shop that she often frequented. She gave a sigh as they eventually drove through the Bargate and threaded their way among the traffic, lined up to go through the narrow archway. She preferred the days when everything was horse-drawn. Things were moving too quickly now as more cars were in use.
The lights were on in the shop window of Shepherd and Hedger’s, and she leaned forward to see what was on display. Only last month she’d purchased a very nice secondhand velvet-covered chesterfield there – a bargain at sixteen pounds, she thought. As the taxi drew up outside the club, Rachel felt a thrill of excitement at the forthcoming event, and prayed it would be a success.
In a small hotel near the docks, Manny Cohen sat on the edge of the bed, his costume laid out beside him. On the table by the bed was a half-bottle of Scotch and a glass. Lighting a cigarette, he blew three perfect smoke rings into the air. There was a look of satisfaction in his hooded eyes as he watched the circles float away. He wished he had a woman with him – he’d been a fool not to think of it before. But never mind, later …
after
. Then he could bring one of the local prostitutes back. Early that morning, before Miriam was awake, he’d taken some money from her handbag. By the time she realised this, it wouldn’t matter. He’d have had his fun.
Tonight was the night that bitch Lily Pickford would get her comeuppance, and his mother Rachel would be taught a lesson she would never forget.
Manny stubbed out his cigarette and started to dress. First the trousers and shirt. Then the white bow tie, the waistcoat and the red frockcoat. Finally he placed the top hat on his head, picked up the whip and cracked it viciously. At the sound, he smiled to himself. He’d chosen his outfit carefully. The ringmaster was always in control. Tonight
he
would be the master. He’d have them all jumping through hoops.
Full of his own importance, he strutted about the small room. With the plain black mask on his face, not even his own mother would recognise him. Looking at his watch, he decided there was no rush. He didn’t want to arrive until dinner was about to be served. He would slip in among the crowd. It was common knowledge that it was a sell-out, which would be all the better for him. Checking that all his things were ready, he poured himself another drink and waited.
The club was packed. Lily was doing what she did best, stopping at all the tables, talking to her punters. She eyed the bottles of champagne that were already open, recognising Vittorio’s wisdom in ordering even more.
The array of costumes took her breath away. Among the men were pirates, French kings, vicars, devils and several sheiks. The latter made her smile, Vittorio, too, was to be a sheik. She’d thought it perfect with his olive skin and now he’d blend in even better than she’d hoped with the others.
Rachel was standing with a drink in her hand, being teased by the staff about her costume. They were warning her to look out for an asp. She took it all in good part.
The meal was a great success and once the tables had been cleared the dancing immediately began. Lily jumped as an arm came around her waist. ‘Shall we dance, my little courtesan?’ She recognised the deep voice of her lover and turned with him to the dance-floor. There was little room to move, but Lily was content to be held.
Several of her regular customers had spotted the exquisite ring on her finger, but none had the nerve to ask her about it directly. She sensed curiosity in the eyes that were watching her and her partner, but no one knew his identity.
During the evening, Lily slipped upstairs to see Victoria. The nanny was asleep in the chair but Lily didn’t disturb her, just crept over to the cot to her baby. The child’s hand was closed with her thumb covered by her small fingers. Lily stroked them gently, leaned over and kissed the soft cheek, then slowly crept out of the room.
‘She’s fast asleep,’ she whispered to Vittorio. ‘I wondered if the noise would disturb her.’
He shook his head. ‘No. After all, she’s two floors up.’ He looked around at the crowd. ‘This has been a wonderful evening, Lily. I’ve been listening to the various comments.’
‘Oh, really? I hope they were complimentary?’
‘Oh yes, they all seem of the opinion that it was money well spent.’
‘Is that all? No gossip?’ There was a speculative look in her eye.
He shrugged. ‘A few caustic comments about your choice of costume. Some thought it a brazen choice, others like you could see the humour of it. But you must have expected that when you picked it.’
‘Of course.’
He took her hand in his and looked at the emerald. ‘This has caused a lot of curiosity.’
‘I bet it has. Is that all?’
He nodded. He didn’t want to tell Lily of the sarcastic remarks he’d heard from some. It angered him that she should be the subject of such ribaldry, but it made him all the more determined to insist that they marry … and soon. It was the only legal way he knew to deal with it. To give her some form of respectability.
Lily had returned to working the room, talking to her punters, joshing them along as she did so very well, when suddenly her attention was caught by a blonde woman dressed like a flapper, in an expensive-looking red gown. Around her head was a black velvet band with a single osprey feather tucked in to the back, and a black feather boa was flung carelessly over one shoulder. Long black gloves completed the outfit. She seemed to be the life and soul of the party among the crowd around her – but what puzzled Lily was the fact that as the woman turned away and made her way to the bar, she was carrying a tray of empty glasses. She watched her carefully and suddenly recognised the sway of the hips. Walking over to the bar, she said, ‘You seem to be very busy.’
Sandy turned in surprise. ‘Hello, darling,’ he said, and kissed her lightly. He did a small pirouette. ‘What do you think?’
He wore a blonde wig and full make-up. Lily couldn’t help but admire the results – the slightly rouged cheeks and the blackened eyelashes – though she thought the red bow-shaped lips were a little too much. ‘Never mind what I think, you old tart. What the devil do you think you’re doing?’
He smiled sweetly. ‘I’m just helping out my boyfriend and the other barmen. It’s so busy, they’re running out of glasses.’ He looked her up and down. ‘Simply lovely, darling. You quite take the shine out of my effort.’
Lily started to laugh. ‘Sandy, you’re outrageous.’
He shrugged. ‘Well, you always knew that, Lily, my dear.’
She suddenly had a brainwave. ‘Look, Sandy,’ she said, ‘the band is in need of a break. How about you and I performing whilst they have a drink and a sandwich?’
His eyes shone. He placed one hand on his hip and smiled provocatively. ‘What, me perform, dressed in a frock?’
‘Why not?’ she said. ‘It’s fancy dress, isn’t it?’
‘It may be fancy dress to you, duckie, but this is a normal part of my wardrobe!’
‘Come on,’ urged Lily, ‘what do you say?’
‘You know me, dear. I love to be the centre of attention. Let’s go.’
As the band came to the end of their number, Lily told them to take a break. Then, after a drum roll, she announced there would be a short cabaret, performed by herself and her ladyfriend, Sandy.
The two of them were so used to working together from earlier days that the absence of a set programme was no problem at all. They put on the performance of their lives.
They started with ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’ and followed it with ‘I ain’t got nobody’, and ‘Some of these days, you’re gonna miss me, honey’. The customers, filled with champagne and bonhomie, joined in lustily.
The band returned and, after a quiet word from Sandy, started to play The Charleston. Lily and the crowd stood in admiration as he gave his rendition of the dance, which ended to rapturous applause.
As they stepped off the stage, Lily said, ‘I didn’t know you could dance.’
He looked a little coy. ‘Well, you see, I started my career as a chorus boy.’
She shook her head. ‘You,’ she said, at a loss for words. ‘Come on, you deserve a drink.’
A little later, Vittorio came over to Lily and kissed her on the cheek. ‘I’ve never seen you quite so animated on the stage as you were tonight. You really enjoyed it, didn’t you?’
She hugged him. ‘It was such fun and Sandy’s such a riot.’
He looked bemused. ‘Do you know, I didn’t recognise him. What a character he is!’
She laughingly agreed. ‘Have you been up to see Victoria?’ she asked.
‘Not for some time. Let’s go up together. You need a moment of peace after all that,’ he said.
They walked upstairs to the second floor, holding hands. Opening the bedroom door quietly, they crept into the room and walked over to the cot.
‘Just look at her,’ said Lily as she smoothed the baby’s face. ‘Isn’t she just perfect?’
‘She’s beautiful,’ he whispered. ‘Almost as beautiful as her mother.’ He pulled Lily gently towards him and kissed her softly on the lips. ‘Don’t you think it’s time we became a proper family?’
‘What do you mean?’
He gathered her closer. ‘I want us to get married – have a real home away from the business, so that our daughter can have everything a normal child has. Somewhere to bring her friends as she gets older. A garden to play in.’